Academics, experts, indigenous people, and farmers from Taiwan and eight other countries signed the "Taiwan Declaration” on Sunday. The goal of the declaration is to reject genetically modified crops and protect indigenous cultures.
Participants signed the declaration on the first day of a two-day inaugural meeting of the International Network of Indigenous Ecological Farmers. It says that indigenous people will not plant GM crops which harm the environment. Instead, the participants will seek the help of farmers and international seed banks to find suitable crops to grow on their land.
The declaration also calls for support from governments and international organizations in tackling the challenges faced by indigenous peoples.